No more buyback specialists starting March

TDIforDays

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Two different buyback specialists told me this week that they are being laid off in March. Buyback will be handled by the dealership itself.

There might be some kind of video chat with corporate as well, but they don’t know any details yet.

If you have any “questionable” cars, I recommend doing buyback ASAP because who knows how strict new rules will be.
 

2010TDI

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IIRC, buyback has to be independent of the dealership.
Not sure where else it shows up in the documents, but the FTC Consent Order - Attachment 5 (Section 5) states:
Buyback transactions will be executed between VWGoA and the customer and facilitated by a third-party Settlement Specialist at the dealership of the customer's choice. Dealerships will have certain duties and obligations to maintain the integrity of the transaction and the vehicle post-buyback/lease termination until it is modified and resold or removed from the dealership by VWGoA.​
 

Rico567

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Yes, post #3 above makes it pretty clear that turning over buyback to the dealerships, absent a change in the consent order, would be a violation of the agreement.
Oh, and the same thing applies to any "new rules." Not without amending the consent order.
 
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Trade Wind

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We turned in an Audi this week, the specialist said her contract might not be reviewed in the coming weeks. She was already covering a four-state area, traveling as much as a few hundred miles one way each day. My guess is the OP's specialist was falsely told (or speculated) that dealership staff would start doing the buy backs. Just a guess.
 

TDIforDays

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Guys, I have returned dozens of cars and have an excellent relationship with my local specialist.

They were all off last week of December and this was their first week back at work. When they came back from vacation, they were told that their position will be terminated around March. Dealerships will be trained to process everything and there might be some kind of video chat with a corporate office during appointment.

Then next day a fiend of mine that does a lot of cars also returned a vehicle on the opposite coast of the country and was told EXACTLY the same thing by his specialist.

If any parts of the settlement will have to change, I am sure VW will get the judge to do so.

It really doesn't change anything for the people with 1 car, but I suspect dealership employee will be more strict regarding condition of the car.
 

2015vwgolfdiesel

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Guys, I have returned dozens of cars and have an excellent relationship with my local specialist.

They were all off last week of December and this was their first week back at work. When they came back from vacation, they were told that their position will be terminated around March. Dealerships will be trained to process everything and there might be some kind of video chat with a corporate office during appointment.

Then next day a fiend of mine that does a lot of cars also returned a vehicle on the opposite coast of the country and was told EXACTLY the same thing by his specialist.

If any parts of the settlement will have to change, I am sure VW will get the judge to do so.

It really doesn't change anything for the people with 1 car, but I suspect dealership employee will be more strict regarding condition of the car.
Condition (?)

Are you talking about general condition, or tricky (or stripping) condition?

.... Like removing ALLOY tires and wheels for steel spares(?)
 

Gael

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Hmm, I was planning on dragging out my buyback until the end to get the most out of the car before it goes back, this makes me hesitant.

My drivers side rear window regulator seems to have failed (I hear motor spinning, but window doesn't go down with it), worried that could effect eligibility.
 

GoFaster

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Hmm, I was planning on dragging out my buyback until the end to get the most out of the car before it goes back, this makes me hesitant.

My drivers side rear window regulator seems to have failed (I hear motor spinning, but window doesn't go down with it), worried that could effect eligibility.
It shouldn't. People who have "complete" cars that are "running" and are in a good enough condition to be "roadworthy" - even if they have something wrong with them - don't have anything to worry about, assuming there aren't issues with the title or ownership or the like.

As far as I know, VW STILL does not have approval to fix and resell the bought-back Gen 1 cars.
 

Trade Wind

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The Audi we turned in a few day ago - power steering was completely out, I could barely turn the wheel. It went out a few days before turn in day, during the recent extreme cold here. They took it back no problem.

You will have no problem if a window doesn't work.
 

opsx

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As far as I know, VW STILL does not have approval to fix and resell the bought-back Gen 1 cars.
Check Autotrader. The market is being flooded with Gen 1 buybacks as of a couple days ago. Many don't even have the fix yet but all have the title transfer to VW :)
 

TDIforDays

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Had my appointment today using the new system. Here is how it goes:

Buyback specialist (soon to be replaced by dealership employee) calls the corporate office and starts the appointment.

They video record you saying your name and verify the vehicle info. Then they take a photo of you, drivers license and all the paperwork.

Then you go to the car and you have to drive 5 feet forward or backward while the person is recording it on video. Then they take photos of the car.

Then you go back inside and they read you the offer letter and all that nonsense.

It took us about 30-40 minutes per car. You have to sit through and listen to all the disclosures and say "yes I agree" several times.

Buyback specialist no longer decides if car is in good enough condition - the corporate person does that.


ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT POINT:
Every VW dealership now has the option to opt out of the buyback receiving program. I was told that my current closest dealership said they will definitely NOT participate and other 2 are unsure. My buyback person did not know what would happen if all local dealerships opt out.
 

Tony45

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Had my appointment today using the new system. Here is how it goes:

ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT POINT:
Every VW dealership now has the option to opt out of the buyback receiving program. I was told that my current closest dealership said they will definitely NOT participate and other 2 are unsure. My buyback person did not know what would happen if all local dealerships opt out.
Thanks for this valuable info! I was planning on turn-in late in December, I’ve to make sure there is a place to deliver the car and no glitches. Will stop by my VW dealer to find out.
 
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2015vwgolfdiesel

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Had my appointment today using the new system. Here is how it goes:

Buyback specialist (soon to be replaced by dealership employee) calls the corporate office and starts the appointment.

They video record you saying your name and verify the vehicle info. Then they take a photo of you, drivers license and all the paperwork.

Then you go to the car and you have to drive 5 feet forward or backward while the person is recording it on video. Then they take photos of the car.

Then you go back inside and they read you the offer letter and all that nonsense.

It took us about 30-40 minutes per car. You have to sit through and listen to all the disclosures and say "yes I agree" several times.

Buyback specialist no longer decides if car is in good enough condition - the corporate person does that.


ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT POINT:
Every VW dealership now has the option to opt out of the buyback receiving program. I was told that my current closest dealership said they will definitely NOT participate and other 2 are unsure. My buyback person did not know what would happen if all local dealerships opt out.

Thanks for your post:)
 

Tony45

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I still haven't decided on what to do yet....
Given the less than glowing results for those who made the emission modification, the only two options for me are: 1) chose the buyback, or 2) do nothing at all and just keep driving until the car expires (or the owner!).
 

STRANGETDI

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I have about 4,000 miles to decide. I don't want to drive my car past the 120,000 mile HPFP warranty without one of those options.

Probably will sell it back and get a newer used GTI or an R.
 

rambalu80

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Katy TX
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Had my appointment today using the new system. Here is how it goes:

Buyback specialist (soon to be replaced by dealership employee) calls the corporate office and starts the appointment.

They video record you saying your name and verify the vehicle info. Then they take a photo of you, drivers license and all the paperwork.

Then you go to the car and you have to drive 5 feet forward or backward while the person is recording it on video. Then they take photos of the car.

Then you go back inside and they read you the offer letter and all that nonsense.

It took us about 30-40 minutes per car. You have to sit through and listen to all the disclosures and say "yes I agree" several times.

Buyback specialist no longer decides if car is in good enough condition - the corporate person does that.


ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT POINT:
Every VW dealership now has the option to opt out of the buyback receiving program. I was told that my current closest dealership said they will definitely NOT participate and other 2 are unsure. My buyback person did not know what would happen if all local dealerships opt out.
The above seems to be in line with the "What to Expect at Your Appointment" video posted here. A couple of things the video states that people may want to note:

1."Participating Dealerships" - sounds like dealerships can opt out as posted in this thread
2. You can opt out of audio and video recordings

I stopped by my dealership yesterday and spoke to the buyback "Program Ambassador". He told me that appointments are easily available now and when asked about who is doing the buybacks and what happens in couple of months, he did mention that the "Program Ambassador" from the dealership will take you through the whole process and after February or March, they may decide not to do buybacks anymore because they do not want to spend about 45 minutes of their time for each buyback.

I had originally planned on doing the buyback in Aug/Sep 2018 because the car is economical, runs great, tires are in good shape, no more maintenance planned and registration was recently renewed, but I am in a dilemma now. The wife wants to get it done and move on before all dealerships (particularly our nearest one) start opting out.

Is there anyone else considering moving up their buyback date?
 
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Rico567

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<snip>

Is there anyone else considering moving up their buyback date?
Based on the possibility that our local dealer may opt out? Certainly not. Cases vary, and I can certainly understand why someone a long distance from a participating dealer may elect to turn the car in early, but we have 4 dealers within a 90 minute drive. Changing our plans means giving up a car that's costing us about 4 cents a mile to drive six months early (I plan to turn in around September, because the holidays get hectic for us), so......I don't think so.
 

Tony45

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Stopped by my dealer today and, yes, VW ambassadors will be terminated soon; dealer personnel will facilitate the proceedings and video conferencing, but not conduct the interview (this way all stay within existing legal bounds). The dealer has committed to this service til the end in December.
P.S. 2018 GTI has not been released yet, pending EPA certification of car’s mileage.
 
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TDIforDays

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Would be nice if VW published a list of participating dealerships that plan to continue the buyback process through the end of the year.
I am sure they will at some point. Right now, dealerships are deciding.

There are 3 VW and 1 Audi dealership near me and my buyback specialists works at all of them. I was told that Audi agreed to participate, 1 VW where I do all my appointments declined (probably because they know that I bring in a lot of cars) and the other 2 VW dealerships are un-decided.

Will update if I hear anything new this week.
 

DSL HED

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Stopped by my dealer today and, yes, VW ambassadors will be terminated soon; dealer personnel will facilitate the proceedings and video conferencing, but not conduct the interview (this way all stay within existing legal bounds). The dealer has committed to this service til the end in December.
P.S. 2018 GTI has not been released yet, pending EPA certification of car’s mileage.
My local dealers both have 2018 GTIs on the lot as of this past weekend. But if you want a Sportwagen or Alltrack, be prepared to wait a while.
 

Tony45

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My local dealers both have 2018 GTIs on the lot as of this past weekend. But if you want a Sportwagen or Alltrack, be prepared to wait a while.
Thanks for the info! I’ll be waiting to end of year before I turn-in car (32k on the clock, way too new to give back). Seriously considering a plug-in hybrid, the VW dealer here thinks I’ll get a GTI; will see :)
 

rambalu80

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As of this morning, I’m seeing buyback appointments available all the way into the first week of a June at all 7 dealerships in the Houston area including one that informed me last week that they may not participate past the end of February.
 

opsx

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so what is this talk of "they wont do buybacks anymore" ? i thought they have to do buybacks until sep?
 

opsx

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doesnt really explain anything. ive read through the whole thread. vw has to do buybacks until september so how exactly will they do them if they are also allowing dealerships to opt out of participating? they are going to do housecalls? somethings gotta give...
 
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